Larry Bunce

Biography

After graduation, I began my life as an AERE Officer at CFB Trenton as a maintenance officer for our newest aircraft acquisition, the Boeing 707 (CC-137). By chance and circumstance, Marilyn was able to secure a teaching position at the base school, and after a year together—on more than just weekends—we were married the following October.

My 28-year military career was varied and extremely rewarding. From the burning sands of Egypt as part of 116 ATU (UNEF II), to the burning sands of Tucson, Arizona for post-graduate studies, to two tours in the freezing snow of Cold Lake—first as a Systems Test Engineer at AETE and later as the Senior Test Engineer. I experienced traditional NDHQ tours as an aircraft desk officer and more exotic secondments as a Defence Scientist with the Operations Research Establishment, as well as a Project Manager with the Directorate of Construction Engineering Requirements (complete with Pukka Sappers certificate 562). I was fortunate to follow my stint as STE at AETE with a posting to AMDU as the Maintenance Analyst Officer.

I left the military in 1994 with the first wave of the FRP, as my rank, age, and years of service aligned perfectly. For the next five years, I worked with SPAR Aerospace, managing contracts at AMDU and later at ATESS in Trenton, before moving down the road to Bath, Ontario, where we still live. I spent my last 15 working years as an independent consultant providing engineering support and proposal-management services. I eased into full retirement last year, which now gives me more time for my current hobby of beekeeping and for enjoying my 18-acre playground north of Gananoque. Marilyn and I are also enjoying travelling—a daughter in Australia helps—and dragging our travel trailer around North America.